Maryland E-Nnovation Initiative Fund (MEIF)
About this page. This page explains the Maryland E-Nnovation Initiative Fund in plain language. The program is authorized under Chapter 533 (HB 741) - PDF - 394.9 KB and Chapter 258 (HB 94) - PDF - 93.59 KB, and governed by COMAR 24.05.22 - PDF - 159.79 KB. If anything on this page conflicts with the statute or regulations, the statute and regulations control.
Program Status
The program is active.
MEIF operates in application rounds. The most recent posted deadline was 5:00 p.m. on June 1, 2026 for FY2027, Round 1. That deadline has passed and no later round has been posted.
Before you apply. Contact Sarah D. Sheppard to confirm the current round and deadline. Rounds are announced on the program page, and application materials are updated for each round.
What This Program Does
The Maryland E-Nnovation Initiative Fund offers a state match to private funds raised in support of endowed chairs at Maryland’s higher education institutions.
Investment earnings on the endowments are spent to advance basic and applied research in scientific and technical fields of study, as specified by statute and determined by the Maryland E-Nnovation Initiative Fund Authority.
Since the program began, it has made more than 105 awards totaling over $98 million, leveraging more than $110 million in private donations across 19 institutions.
Who Can Apply
Nonprofit institutions of higher education in Maryland may apply for state funding to establish research endowments.
Once an institution secures matching private donations, MEIF funds may be distributed to the endowment.
Definitions:
Endowed chair. A permanently funded academic position at a higher education institution. The endowment principal is invested, and the investment earnings support the position and its research.
State match. MEIF funds distributed to an institution’s endowment after the institution secures qualifying private donations. The state funds match the private funds raised.
MEIF Authority. The Maryland E-Nnovation Initiative Fund Authority, which oversees the program, evaluates applications, and determines awards.
What the Fund Can Support
The Governor appropriates $8.5 million to the fund each year.
The state match supports research endowments at qualifying institutions. Investment earnings on those endowments are spent to further basic and applied research in scientific and technical fields of study, as specified by statute and as determined by the MEIF Authority.
Recent award history
Award sizes vary by institution and round. Recent fiscal years:
| Fiscal year | Awards | Total awarded | Institutions |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY26 | 10 | $12,017,004 | 9 |
| FY25 | 10 | $9,750,000 | 6 |
| FY24 | 7 | $7,500,000 | 3 |
| FY23 | 9 | $8,282,825 | 8 |
| FY22 | 14 | $13,600,000 | 9 |
In FY2026, the program made 10 awards totaling $12,017,004 to 9 institutions. Individual FY2026 awards ranged from $500,000 to $2,750,000.
Award history for earlier fiscal years is published on the Commerce program page.
How to Apply
- Review the application and instructions - PDF - 275.82 KB and the evaluation criteria - PDF - 408.93 KB.
- Confirm the current round and deadline with the program contact.
- Assemble the complete application as a single PDF document.
- Submit by email to [email protected] by the posted deadline.
Format matters. Applications must be submitted by email as a single PDF document. Confirm the current deadline before submitting — the posted round deadline may have passed.
How Applications Are Reviewed
Applications are evaluated against published criteria, and awards are determined by the MEIF Authority.
See the Application Appendix: Evaluation Criteria - PDF - 408.93 KB for the full evaluation framework.
For background on the legislative intent behind the program, see the letter to the Chair of MEIFA - PDF - 907.45 KB.
Reporting Requirements
Award recipients submit annual reports to Commerce.
Reporting resources:
- Consolidated Annual Report Template and Certification Form
- MEIF Report Training (PDF) - PDF - 9.73 MB
- MEIF Indirect Cost Proposal Template (PDF) - PDF - 3.31 MB
Governance and Oversight
MEIF is overseen by the Maryland E-Nnovation Initiative Fund Authority, which evaluates applications and determines awards.
Program annual reports:
- MEIF Program Annual Report FY2025 (PDF) - PDF - 223.6 KB
- MEIF Program Annual Report FY2023 & FY2024 (PDF) - PDF - 2.08 MB
- MEIF Program Annual Report FY2022 (PDF) - PDF - 255.44 KB
Legal Notices and Required Language
This program is authorized under:
Program regulations:
Program resources:
- Application and Instructions (PDF) - PDF - 275.82 KB
- Application Appendix: Evaluation Criteria (PDF) - PDF - 408.93 KB
- Consolidated Annual Report Template (DOCX) - DOCX - 65.35 KB
- MEIF Report Training (PDF) - PDF - 9.73 MB
- MEIF Indirect Cost Proposal Template (PDF) - PDF - 3.31 MB
- Letter to the Chair of MEIFA on legislative intent (PDF) - PDF - 907.45 KB
- Maryland E-Nnovation Initiative Fund Authority
Applicants should consult the statute and applicable regulations for the complete legal requirements governing this program.
Contact
Sarah D. Sheppard
Director, Education & Workforce
Maryland Department of Commerce
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 443-618-8593